Quenched phosphor displays with pixel amplification

Abstract

Displays are described comprising electrically quenched phosphor pixels, in which light emissions by a phosphor pixel are inhibited by application of an electric field. Such pixels may be excited by UV and de-excited by applying a voltage to control the display. In an embodiment, a pixel amplifier structure may be included and added to the output of a quenched phosphor display.

1 . A display comprising:
 a plurality of phosphor pixels configured to provide an output, the phosphor pixels are configured to be electrically quenched, and an electric field is configured such that application of the electric field inhibits light emission from one or more phosphor pixels;   a pixel amplifier in operative communication with the output and configured to amplify the output provided by the phosphor pixels.   
   
   
       2 . The display of  claim 1 , including an insulating layer configured to prevent light from the phosphor pixels from feedback. 
   
   
       3 . The display of  claim 1 , wherein the pixel amplifier includes a pair of transparent conductors, a photoconductor, and a phosphor, the photoconductor and phosphor at least partially separated by an insulator. 
   
   
       4 . The display of  claim 3 , wherein AC voltage is applied to the transparent conductors to illuminate the phosphor. 
   
   
       5 . The display of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphor pixels are excited by UV light. 
   
   
       6 . The display of  claim 5 , wherein a source of the UV light comprises an LED. 
   
   
       7 . The display of  claim 5 , wherein a source of the UV light is excited plasma. 
   
   
       8 . The display of  claim 5 , wherein the phosphor pixels are inside a fluorescent light. 
   
   
       9 . The display of  claim 1 , wherein the electric field is a DC electric field. 
   
   
       10 . The display of  claim 1 , wherein the electric field is an AC electric field. 
   
   
       11 . The display of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphor pixels comprise ZnS. 
   
   
       12 . The display of  claim 1 , wherein the pixels comprise thin film cell structures. 
   
   
       13 . The display of  claim 5 , wherein the phosphor pixels comprise thin film cell structures and the UV light does not pass through the cell structures but excites the phosphor pixels to emit photons at the inherent frequency of the phosphor pixels. 
   
   
       14 . The display of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphor pixels are provided in a matrix. 
   
   
       15 . The display of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphor pixels are electrically quenched to turn off emitted light. 
   
   
       16 . The display of  claim 1 , wherein darkened areas are provided between the phosphor pixels. 
   
   
       17 . The display of  claim 1 , wherein areas between the phosphor pixels are devoid of phosphor. 
   
   
       18 . The display of  claim 1 , wherein phosphor is selectively removed between said pixels. 
   
   
       19 . The display of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphor pixels comprise a pixel cell constructed inside a fluorescent light. 
   
   
       20 . The display of  claim 19 , wherein ionized gas emits UV radiation exciting the phosphor pixels. 
   
   
       21 . The display of  claim 19 , wherein UV radiation is emitted inside the fluorescent light. 
   
   
       22 . The display of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphor pixels are disposed between transparent conductive coatings. 
   
   
       23 . The display of  claim 22 , wherein the electric field is created by an electric potential applied across said coatings. 
   
   
       24 . The display of  claim 22 , wherein the phosphor pixels emit fluorescent light through a glass faceplate overlying one of the transparent conductive coatings. 
   
   
       25 . The display of  claim 22 , wherein the phosphor pixels are excited by UV light emitted through a glass plate overlying one of the transparent conductive coatings. 
   
   
       26 . The display of  claim 22 , wherein the phosphor pixels are disposed between glass substrates. 
   
   
       27 . The display of  claim 22 , wherein the transparent conductive coatings and the phosphor pixels are disposed between a pair of glass substrates. 
   
   
       28 . The display of  claim 27 , wherein the phosphor pixels emit fluorescent light through one of the glass substrates. 
   
   
       29 . The display of  claim 27 , wherein the phosphor pixels are excited by UV light projected through another of the glass substrates. 
   
   
       30 . The display of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphor pixels are excited by application of UV light through edge lighting of the display. 
   
   
       31 . The display of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphor pixels are comprised of an inorganic material. 
   
   
       32 . The display of  claim 31 , wherein fluorescence of inorganic phosphor pixels is excited by UV radiation and inhibited by the electric field. 
   
   
       33 . A display comprising:
 a phosphor display output;   a pixel amplifier configured for operative communication with the display output;   wherein the pixel amplifier includes a pair of transparent conductors, a photoconductor, and a phosphor, the photoconductor and phosphor at least partially separated by an insulator.   
   
   
       34 . The display of  claim 33 , wherein the pixel amplifier is in direct physical contact with the display output. 
   
   
       35 . The display of  claim 33 , wherein the electrical resistance of the photoconductor decreases with increased light intensity. 
   
   
       36 . The display of  claim 33 , wherein the photoconductor includes vacuum deposited cadmium sulphide or cadmium selenide. 
   
   
       37 . A display comprising:
 a means for providing a phosphor display output, the means for providing an output including quenched phosphor pixels; and   a means for amplifying the phosphor display output including a phosphor and a photoconductor, the means for amplifying being in operative communication with the means for providing a phosphor display output;   wherein the means for amplifying is configured to receive a voltage and the photoconductor causes the phosphor to be illuminated from the phosphor display output.